Journey to find out if the Signal ferro rod is useful or gimmicky

[aikon2014]

However, most people are probably not going to use it as a backup or last resort, so it's pretty useless.

Fixed.

 

[OUTDOORTREE]

If I plan on needing fire while camping/ backpacking I carry Kabar Becker BK 2 and a fat ferro rod with Vaseline cotton balls. 

Where the signal fits with me is the quick squirrel hunt that was impromptu or the quick fishing trip because I have my rod in the back of the truck or something on those lines.  I definitely prefer dedicated tools but I am often doing impromptu trips where I do not have my dedicated tools but have my leathermans near by.  In those instances the signal is a great fit for me.  Last fall I took the kids for an unplanned hike and of course one fell in the stream and quickly made a fire to get him warm and clothes dry.  Luckily I happened to have a lighter in my pocket but often I don't because I hardly every use one.

The other benefit for me using the signal is that it forces me to learn to spend the time to have fire materials prepared.  Starting a fire is easy when everything goes right and your hiking on a sunny day.  Hopefully by forcing myself to start all fires with the signal will mean I am better prepared when I really need to do one in a real situation.

Price wise I got mine at bimart in Yakima WA for $70 so I didn't think that was unfair for a good tool.  Even though the whistle ferro rod is a little steep I think the price is worth it because I will never forget to grab a ferro rod because it is attached and that holds value for me.  I am very good about forgetting the little things but good about remembering my toys like the signal.  Anyways I find it useful and practical for what I do.

Yeah 200 strikes sounds about right.  As I get better at starting fires hopefully that translates into more fires.

[zoidberg]

Awarded.      Congrats on your first badge.   

[Lynn LeFey]

Yeah 200 strikes sounds about right.  As I get better at starting fires hopefully that translates into more fires.

I'm not knocking the function of the Signal. I'm just not happy at the replacement price.

I built the little fire striker from a bic mini, and I tested how many strikes it could get while burning the fuel of the bic out, and that was like 1200. AND there was still a very large amount of the ferro rod in the striker left, maybe 2/3 or 3/4 of it. Probably reasonably enough to get 6000 strikes.

As an emergency backup method of firestarting, yeah, I get it. It just seems overpriced is all I'm saying. And I'm cheap.

[zoidberg]

Mini bic fire striker... brilliant. Thread link?

[Lynn LeFey]

Mini bic fire striker... brilliant. Thread link?

"Lynn Tests the 'Micro Fire Starting Kit' lighter hack"
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,74717.0.html

Initial testing showed me that it was seriously finicky, but after a handful of attempts, it started working VERY consistently.

[aikon2014]

Mini bic fire striker... brilliant. Thread link?

I think it's just a bic lighter without the metal guard and gas tank, aka. the "striker" wheel and ferro mini rod. It uses the same small rods as Zippo.

[zoidberg]

Mini bic fire striker... brilliant. Thread link?

"Lynn Tests the 'Micro Fire Starting Kit' lighter hack"
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,74717.0.html

Initial testing showed me that it was seriously finicky, but after a handful of attempts, it started working VERY consistently.

Good to know, thank you.      I'll go have a read.

[zoidberg]

Mini bic fire striker... brilliant. Thread link?

I think it's just a bic lighter without the metal guard and gas tank, aka. the "striker" wheel and ferro mini rod. It uses the same small rods as Zippo.

[zoidberg]

Is the micro fire starter small enough to replace the Signal ferro/whistle?   

[Lynn LeFey]

Is the micro fire starter small enough to replace the Signal ferro/whistle?   

I think a 3d printed plastic body could be made, incorporating the wheel, spring, and rod from a bic, that could fit in the space a Signal's whistle/ferro rod take up.

And now you've got me thinking about getting 3d software and modelling it.